Why we won’t release 40 detained suspects, by Navy

The Nigerian Navy has explained why it would not release the 40 detained suspects in its custody despite the recent call by human rights lawyer, Chief Femi Falana, that they should do so.

The Navy, which described itself as a rational and responsible organisation, said it doesn’t act arbitrarily, explaining that there were some clues that resulted in the arrest of the suspects.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja to kick-start the Nigerian Navy 63rd Anniversary Celebrations, scheduled to hold from Wednesday, May 22 to Saturday, June 1, 2019, the Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Beegroy Ibe-Enwo, tasked those concerned about the matter to resort to court instead of seeking media attention.

He said: “The Nigerian Navy is a very rational and a responsible organisation. We don’t act arbitrarily; if there is anything that led to the arrest of some persons, there would have been some leads.

“And for crimes like the one you are talking about, it has some wide network which also involved a lot of nationals from other countries and it has a lot of international characterisation.

“The appropriate prosecuting agencies for such offences are looking very closely into that matter. And for whatever it is, if anybody has any grouse with any action, perhaps, he should resort to the court instead of all these media hypes, with all due respect, in the name of human rights.

“Yes, there is human rights but we must also be balancing human rights with human wrongs. As I have said, the issue is being looked at and appropriate actions are being taken in that regard.”

Speaking further, Ibe-Enwo disclosed that the Navy was expecting delivery of four 17-metres Fast Interceptor Boats it placed order for, saying the equipment were expected to be delivered by November 2019 to tackle insecurity in the country’s maritime environment.He also said negotiations that would culminate in the procurement of a 100 metres Landing Ship Tank (LST) expected to be delivered by June 2020 were also ongoing.Read More